Jawf - Saba:
The General Authority for Grain Development and Production, in coordination with the Office of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources in Jawf province, honored 111 coordinators for their contributions to the expansion of grain and legume cultivation and production in the province.
During the ceremony, Dr. Radwan al-Rubai, Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, and Water Resources, emphasized the significance of recognizing the efforts of the district coordinators in promoting wheat and grain cultivation. He noted that 30,000 bags of seeds were distributed this year, compared to 16,000 bags in previous years, highlighting the remarkable progress made.
Dr. al-Rubai commended the efforts of the coordinators and the local agriculture office, which led to a doubling of seed distribution. He also praised the role of local authorities and the agricultural office in overcoming limited resources to expand wheat cultivation.
The minister announced the provision of five harvesters to the province this year, which will save farmers time and effort during harvest.
He also lauded the Grain Development Authority for supplying high-quality, pure seeds, which are expected to boost productivity, reduce production costs, and enhance self-sufficiency in grain production.
Dr. al-Rubai revealed plans to establish a dedicated agricultural unit in Jawf and reiterated the ministry's commitment to supporting farmers with equipment, affordable loans, and other resources to expand wheat cultivation. He added that 20 community harvesters would be introduced this year, with more agricultural machinery to follow annually.
Jawf governor Faisal Bin Haidar highlighted the region's fertile soil and high-quality crops, expressing confidence that collective efforts by coordinators and farmers would contribute to achieving self-sufficiency in grain production. He acknowledged the support provided by the Ministry of Agriculture and the Grain Development Authority in meeting the needs of farmers.
Acting Director General of the Grain Development Authority Engineer Salah al-Mashraqi praised the 111 district coordinators for their dedication, which resulted in over 12,000 hectares being cultivated with wheat this season.
Al-Mashraqi disclosed that the authority purchased around 95,000 bags of seeds and grains from Jawf last season for YER 1.7 billion, distributing 60,000 bags of wheat seeds across various provinces, with 30,000 bags allocated to Jawf. He highlighted that the authority provided loans and support exceeding YER 700 million to farmers and investors in the region.
Initial projections indicate that 150,000 bags of wheat seeds worth YER 2.8 billion will be harvested this season, marking a record achievement for the country. These seeds will be planted across 50,000 hectares in the next season. Additionally, wheat production this season is expected to yield between 400,000 and 500,000 bags, valued at approximately YER 8 billion
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